Bolton: Russia may have helped Iran down spy drone

John Bolton

It’s possible that Russia directly aided Iran in downing the sophisticated U.S. drone that crashed in Iranian territory last week, America’s former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton said today in a radio interview.

“You would have to think that that is a possibility,” said Bolton, commenting on the likelihood of Russian assistance in the drone’s capture.

Bolton was speaking on “Aaron Klein Investigative Radio” on New York’s WABC Radio.

Listen to the interview at KleinOnline.

Bolton noted speculation that Iran in recent months purchased from Russian sources the advanced jamming and electronic warfare system known as Avtobaza, which he said could have been used to hack into the downed drone’s system.

The captured American RQ-170 Sentinel highly classified spy drone is designed to be virtually invisible to radar and reportedly carries advanced communications and surveillance gear.

“I wouldn’t be at all surprised if in fact the Russians provided the jamming equipment as the alternative to the S-300,” stated Bolton.

The former ambassador was referring to Russia’s S-300 antiaircraft surface-to-air missile defense system. Moscow had pledged to refrain from selling that system to Iran due to sanctions imposed on the country.

Bolton warned: “If Iran has from Russia or anybody else a capability to disrupt our communications with our drones, this could be a very significant development, very negative. It could also affect airplane and missile communications and guidance systems as well.”

Iran’s semi-official news agency Press TV last week broadcast video showing the drone intact, indicating the unmanned aerial vehicle did not crash land.

A senior official told Press TV that Iran successfully hacked into the spy drone using the country’s electronic warfare unit after the drone allegedly crossed into Iranian airspace over the Eastern border with Afghanistan.

According to reports, Chinese and Russian military officials requested to send experts to Iran to inspect the U.S. drone.

Bolton called such recent developments a “substantial setback for the U.S.”

“It allows Iranians and therefore the Russian and Chinese access to our stealth technology. It allows them access to our communications and sensors inside the drone,” he said.